Compact disk (CD) Jewel Case hinge storage apparatus and marketing method

ABSTRACT

An optical disk (“compact disk,” “CD,” “DVD,” or other “optical disk”) case is disclosed which utilizes spaces within such “CD Jewel Cases” to store, transport, display, sample, and market other products. The largest of such spaces unused within CD Cases is a hinge space located at or near the point where the bottom and top covers are joined in a movable “hinge.” A marketing method for presenting two or more items to a prospective purchaser using the CD Case of the present invention is also disclosed for co-marketing products, or premiums or gifts offered with products. In such method, additional items, which may be solid or liquid, single or many, and are often consumables (such as perfume), may then be stored and transported with the optical disk and its case, and eventually presented to a potential purchaser in the same CD Case at the “point of sale” for the optical disk or the additional item.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The applicant has filed with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office twodisclosure document deposit requests covering the invention disclosedherein on May. 23, 2005. These filings were entitled “Container orDispenser for CD or DVD Cases,” and “Compact Disk Case with Compartmentsfor Sample Merchandise and Marketing Materials.”

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to optical “compact disk” (“CD,” “DVD,” or“optical disk”) containers (also known as “CD Jewel Cases” or “CDCases”), which protect optical disks upon transport and sale, andapparatus by which one may utilize space or spaces Within such holdersto store, transport, display, and market other products with opticaldisks. More specifically, the present invention consists primarily ofmodifications of CD Cases of otherwise standard design, whichmodifications provide access to unused areas within CD Cases. In thepresent invention, relatively minor changes in standard CD Cases providespace within a CD Case, and ready access to that space for items whichmight be sold with an optical disk in such a CD Case. In some versionsof the present invention, such modifications and changes may includecomponents which define holders which may be inserted into a spacewithin a CD Case, into which other items may be placed. However, theholders used to position optical disks within CD Cases (generallyreferred to as “CD Trays” or “Trays”), if properly formed consistentwith the present invention, will alone provide access to usable spacewithin such CD Cases. The largest and most usable space which may beused for holding additional items according to the present invention isgenerally found at or near the point where the bottom and top covers arejoined in a movable “hinge.”

The present invention also provides a marketing method for presentingtwo or more items to a prospective purchaser. With such a method, onemay place an additional item in the space near the hinge of a CD Caseformed according to the present invention, and that additional item maythen be stored and transported with the optical disk and its case, andeventually presented to a potential purchaser. Such additional items,which may be solid or liquid, single or many, and are often consumables(such as perfume), when contained in a CD Case consistent with thepresent invention, are prominently presented to prospective purchasersat the “point of sale” for the optical disk. On the other hand, anoptical disk may be offered as a “premium” or gift, often of lesservalue, which may be received by a purchaser along with, and at the pointof sale of, the perfume or other additional item. In any case, whereversuch optical disks and additional items are presented to a prospectivepurchaser utilizing the apparatus of the present invention, such opticaldisks and additional items are “Co-marketed” by prominently displayingboth the optical disk and the additional item (or items) for sale in thesame CD Case.

As “digital versatile disks” (“DVDs”), and most other optical disks, aresimilar in size and shape to compact disk optical disks, DVD Cases andother cases may be formed with access to their interior similar to thatfound in the modified CD Cases of the present invention. As a result,similar Co-marketing opportunities arise when additional items aresituated within such other cases, according to the present invention.

BACKGROUND ART OF THE INVENTION

Compact optical disks have gradually replaced vinyl disks for therecording of audio and visual material, as well as for non-audio/visual,digitally recorded material for computer file storage. As a result,large quantities of recorded or unrecorded compact optical disks areproduced and used in different fields of application, and such disksmust be properly protected and identified using a storage case.Generally, a rigid three part clear plastic case is used for thesepurposes, such CD Cases are generally formed from stiff plastic materialsuch as styrene. The three parts of standard CD Cases generally comprise(1) a main body, or case bottom or bottom cover, into which is placed(2) a CD Tray, which is formed to hold a optical disk, generally withina recessed well or depression formed in the Tray, and (3) a top cover(or “Front Cover”), formed to close over the interior space createdwithin the main body. A hinge is generally supplied in standard cases.Such hinge is created by the interaction of pins on the Front Cover withholes in the main body. The pins of the hinge are formed on tabsextending from one edge of the Front Cover, at the ends of such edge,while the holes are formed near a corresponding edge of the main body,and at the ends of such edge.

The standard CD Case as a whole is asymmetrically formed around theoptical disk which it holds, so that the holes and the pins forming thehinge are formed in such a case beyond the area required to contain suchoptical disk. With such placement, the Front Cover of the standardoptical disk case completely covers an optical disk placed within themain body, however the Front Cover does not cover the entire front sideof such CD Case. Rather, there is a substantially open, and generallyunused, space just beyond the diameter of an optical disk placed withinthe case. This space (the “hinge space”) is formed in a standard CD caseby various walls or panels, and is generally bounded at its bottom (whenthe CD Case is laying flat) or back (when the case is set on its edge)by a portion of the main body of the CD Case. Another portion of themain body also defines the hinge space at the distal “spine” edge of theCD Case, and two additional portions of the main body define the ends ofthe hinge space, into which the hinge holes are formed. In a standard CDCase, the hinge space is also generally bounded at its top (when the CDCase is laying flat) or front (when the case is set on its edge) by anextension of the CD Tray beyond the diameter of the held optical disk.The CD Tray in a standard CD Case also defines an interior part-wallbetween the hinge space and the interior of the CD Case which holds theoptical disk, and the Tray defines a recessed well in which the opticaldisk may reside. The CD Tray is held rigidly in position within the mainbody by pins formed on the Tray, which Tray pins insert intocorresponding holes formed in the main body of the CD Case.

Other variations on this general design exist in more recent, thin CDCases, in which the space into which the hinge is formed is left open atits bottom (or back). In such variations, the interior of the CD Caseand the hinge space are bounded almost entirely by the top of the case,as the case top extends beyond the diameter of an optical disk placed inthe CD Case. A spine edge in such variations is formed at the edge ofthe top of the case, and tabs or walls are formed in the case top todefine the ends of this space, and act as end tabs which co-act to forma hinge. The end tabs in these thin cases generally have holes formed intheir ends, which holes may interact with pins formed on extensions fromthe main body of the CD Case. The opening at the back of the space atthe hinge in these thin cases is a consequence of the geometry inherentin reducing the thickness of a case, and is desirable because the designuses less plastic material overall to form the case. As a result of thethin design of these thin cases, the space near the hinge usable forstorage in such cases is generally too small to carry much more thanidentifying information printed on paper.

A number arrangements of the three parts of a standard CD Case have beendeveloped for storage or display of additional items with the opticaldisk in the CD Case, and such arrangements often attempt to utilize thespace adjacent the hinge. Uniformly, the purpose of such arrangementshas been one of two:

-   -   (1) Firstly, the space near the hinge is used in many prior        arrangements to hold an ornament to attract a prospective        purchaser, or induce a purchase, or for later ornamental        purposes as the CD Case is used.    -   (2) Secondly, the space adjacent the hinge space is used to hold        a fragrance which stays with the CD Case, again to attract a        prospective purchaser or induce a purchase, or so that a        purchaser may smell such a fragrance while using the CD Case to        store or use the optical disk.

Some of these prior arrangements are embodied in devices which appearsuperficially like the present invention, or have one or more featuresof the present invention. In attempting to achieve useful storage,display, and fragrance characteristics consistent with the purpose ofthese prior devices, others have created variations on the standard CDCase design to accomplish their purposes. Such apparatus within therelated art includes:

U.S. Pat. No. 5,850,912 to Ganser et al., which discloses a housing fora compact disk having an “information carrier” in the hinge portion of aCD Case.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,893,455 to Biedebach et al., which discloses a compactdisk package with spine insert, in which a fully enclosed space isdefined by the three parts of a CD Case.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,143 to Yoshioka, which discloses a compact diskpackage with ornamental and fragrance effects created by filling a spacein the hinge portion of a CD Case.

The inventions disclosed in these patents and appearing in theseproducts appear to fulfill their respective objectives. As noted above,these objectives include placing objects or substances within the spacenear the hinge to attract a prospective purchaser with “eye catching”ornamental objects or substances, or placing such objects or substanceswithin the space adjacent the hinge to induce a purchase, as aprospective purchaser weighs the attractiveness of various products. Theobjectives of the inventions disclosed in prior patents also includeplacing a fragrance within the space adjacent the hinge, which fragranceis then allowed to dissipate as the CD Case is used by the purchaser.This is in essence the same attractive and sale inducing functionachieved with ornamental objects, as a prospective purchaser considersat the time of purchase the benefit of the presence of the fragrance sodelivered when the purchaser may smell such a fragrances while the CDCase is in use.

However, the objectives achieved by these prior inventions is whollyunlike the objectives of the present invention, which are more fully setforth below, but include modifying CD Cases of otherwise standard designto provide access to the hinge space for delivery of a second productwhich might beneficially be sold with a first product residing on anoptical disk. Such first product may be music, or video, content, or itmay be software or even simply digitized data which may be useful to aprospective purchaser. Such a second product may be perfume, or candy,or a pen for marking the CD, or a towel for cleaning the CD, or anyother product which might naturally be conjoined at the point of salewith the CD and its content. By using the unused space within standardCD Cases, as modified consistent with the present invention, suchconjoined products benefit from the delivery of two products with asingle sale, or the sampling of one product while considering purchaseof another product. Using the apparatus of the present invention, thehinge space becomes available to jointly sell two products, or to sellone of the products using the other product only as a promotional deviceto achieve the sale. The present invention thereby provides vendors withflexibility in packaging their products to increase the promotionalimpact on prospective purchasers for any product which might be writtento a CD, and for any product which might be placed within the hingespace of a CD Case modified according to the present invention. Thisincreased promotional impact, achieved by jointly marketing two productsin separate compartments of a single CD Case, results in an entirely newmarketing method using a CD Case, which method is generally referred toherein as “co-marketing” or “product group marketing.” The prior patentsand products in the art do not describe or suggest a media carrying casewhich allows delivery of two products with a single sale, nor do theydescribe or suggest an apparatus which allows increased promotionalimpact through jointly marketing two products in separate compartmentsof a single CD Case, nor do they describe or suggest “co-marketing” or“product group marketing” using a CD Case consistent with he presentinvention.

The objectives of the present invention are only achieved by creating,in the present invention, a different apparatus than is found in theprior art, and the apparatus of the present invention is uniquelysituated to achieve these objectives. No patent or product of which theinventor is aware provides ready access to the Hinge Portion of a CDCase, which access is designed specifically to co-market products as setforth herein. The method of the present invention, which comprisesco-marketing or product group marketing using CD Cases, is best achievedusing the CD Case of the present invention, as only this apparatus hasbeen designed with product group marketing in mind.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Summary of the Invention

In its simplest form, the present invention is a CD Case, which isgenerally used for holding and protecting an optical disk when not inuse, and displaying an optical disk (or at least pictures and literatureassociated with that optical disk) for sale. However, the CD Case of thepresent invention is modified to provide an accessible space for holdingand displaying other products which may beneficially be sold or sampledwith the optical disk in the same CD Case.

As noted above, a standard CD Case consists of a rigid three-part clearplastic case formed from stiff plastic material such as styrene. Thefirst part of a standard CD Case is a main body, which is sometimescalled the case bottom, or bottom cover, into which an optical disk maybe placed. The second part of a standard CD Case is a CD Tray, which isformed to securely hold a CD or other optical disk within the main body.When the CD Tray is properly positioned in the main body of a standardCD Case, the Tray is securely situated in the main body over its entirearea, and held in position within the main body by Tray pins extendingfrom points near the four corners of the Tray, and corresponding Trayholes in the main body, into which the Tray pins may extend when theTray is pressed into position within the main body. The third part of astandard CD Case is a Front Cover, formed to close over the main body,thereby creating in interior for the case. The Front Cover also issupplied with cover pins, the cover pins generally formed on tabsextending from one edge of the Front Cover, at the ends of such edge, sothat each cover pin extends toward a corresponding tab and cover pin atan adjacent corner of the Front Cover. The cover pins may extend intocorresponding holes in the main body, and when the Front Cover isengaged with the main body in finished position, and the cover pins areset into the corresponding holes in the main body, a hinge is created.The hinge so created allows the Front Cover to rotate along one of itsedges in fixed rotational relationship with a corresponding edge of themain body, as the cover pins rotate within the corresponding holes ofthe main body.

With this arrangement of three components in a standard CD Case, a spaceis created at or directly adjacent the line at which the main body ofthe CD Case co-acts hinge-like with the Front Cover. This space withinthe interior of the CD Case in standard CD Cases, extends in itsentirety beyond the diameter of an optical disk held within the CD Case.The standard CD Case as a whole is therefore asymmetrically formed sothat the cover pins and corresponding holes are formed beyond the areain such a case required to contain an optical disk. The hinge space isdirectly behind and between the main body holes in the standard CD Case,and between the cover pins when the Front Cover is snapped into positionover the main body in such a case, and so the entirety of the hingespace is within the CD Case, but just beyond the diameter of an opticaldisk placed within the Tray of the case. In this arrangement, theinterior boundary of the hinge space is just beyond the edge of anoptical disk placed within the Tray of the fully assembled CD Case, andthe exterior boundary of the hinge space is at the “spine” of the CDCase, adjacent the pivot line established by the hinge between the mainbody and the Front Cover. In this standard CD Case arrangement ofcomponents, the hinge space is bounded at its back (when the case is seton its edge) by a portion of the main body of the CD Case. Anotherportion of the main body also defines the hinge space at the spine edge,and two additional portions of the main body define the ends of thehinge space, into which the main body holes are formed.

With this arrangement of components in a standard CD Case, the FrontCover of the standard CD Case completely covers an optical disk placedin correct position within a Tray properly positioned within the mainbody of the CD Case, but the Front Cover does not cover the hinge space.Instead a front wall (or “Front Panel”) covers the front of the hingespace in a standard CD Case. The space near the hinge in a standard CDCase has been designed into standard CD Cases to provide anchors betweenthe main body and the Front Side to which components which function as ahinge may be attached (i.e., the cover pins and corresponding holes).The hinge in a standard CD Case is its weakest point, and so most oftenbroken. Accordingly, the top pins and corresponding holes in the mainbody are increased in size to provide the strength to avoid suchbreakage, and the Front Panel covering the front of the space near thehinge primarily fills the function of providing additional rigiditywhere additional rigidity is desirable to avoid breaking the hinge.

In a standard CD Case, the Front Panel which bounds the front side ofthe space adjacent the hinge is formed as an extension of the CD Tray.The CD Tray also defines an interior wall (the “Tray wall”) between thespace near the hinge and the remainder of the interior of the CD Case.The Tray holds an optical disk (in a recessed well in the Tray), and anextension of the Tray forms the Tray wall between the space adjacent thehinge and the interior of the case, and extends further to form theFront Panel.

In the present invention, the hinge space, modified to create a spacehaving new utility in the present invention (the “Hinge Space” of thepresent invention) is used to transport, house, display, and deliverother products. This is unlike any previous use for CD Cases, and thisuse requires a different structure to properly accomplish theco-marketing purpose of the present invention. Thus, while numerous CDCases of the prior art utilize the space adjacent the hinge, the CDCases of the prior art are intended for a different purpose and so areformed consistent with those purposes. For example, some CD Cases of theprior art are intended to display an object, and to thereby catch theeye of a prospective purchaser, however in such CD Cases the object sodisplayed is not intended to be removed from the CD Case. As a result,the space near the hinge in such prior art CD Cases remains closed, sothat the object remains enclosed in the CD Case when in use. The user ofthe CD may see the object in the space near the hinge of such an CD Caseeach time the user picks up the CD Case with the object so enclosed, butthe user cannot normally touch that object without pulling the Tray fromthe main body of the case. As another example, some CD Cases of theprior art are intended to allow a fragrance to emanate from the CD Casewhen in use. As a result, the space near the hinge in such prior art CDCases again remains closed, except for small holes or vents which leadfrom the space adjacent the hinge to the exterior of the CD Case. Suchvents provide channels for the fragrance contained in the space near thehinge to travel to the user each time the CD Case is picked up.

Unlike these prior art CD Cases, the present invention is intended forco-marketing. This is accomplished by using the CD Case to transport,house, and display additional items as in the prior art, however thepresent invention goes beyond the prior art in its delivery of suchadditional items and products. The present invention is specificallydesigned to allow easy access to its Hinge Space. The present inventionis even specifically designed in some cases to allow the additionalitems or products to fall freely from the Hinge Space when the FrontSide of the CD Case of the present invention is turned downward, therebyallowing gravity alone (in some versions of the present invention) toact on the additional items or products so that they fall naturally awayfrom, or out of, the Hinge Space.

When manufactured, this simplest version of the present inventionrequires only that the wall generally found at the front of the HingeSpace (the “Front Panel,” formed by an extension of the Tray) be leftoff as the CD Case is formed. Leaving this Front Panel off opens thefront of the Hinge Space to the exterior of the CD Case at its FrontSide, so that an object may be placed within the Hinge Space by layingthe CD Case flat, and laying the object to be placed in the casedirectly within the Hinge Space. It is in this sense that the HingeSpace of the CD Case of the present invention is “open,” so that anobject placed within the Hinge Space may also be touched by aprospective purchaser (if the CD Case of the present invention is notcovered by shrink wrap or other packaging cover), and the contents ofthe Hinge Space removed by pulling on such contents with a fingertip.With such an open Hinge Space, a variety of products which naturally fitwithin the Hinge Space may be carried to a consumer of music or otherentertainment, and a variety of products may be modified in their shapeto fit within such space. Thus, for instance, lipstick, or other makeupis often packaged in sizes having diameters larger than the width ordepth of a Hinge Space, may be packaged to fit within the Hinge Space.And because the Hinge Space is open, many products which are larger thanthe depth of the Hinge Space may also be carried to a consumer in thesame way, as such products, so long as they fit roughly within the widthof a Hinge Space, may be allowed to protrude from the Hinge Space.

Continuing with the simplest version of the present invention, sinceadditional items or products may move freely out of the Hinge Space, theadditional items or products must be held in place during transport anddisplay. Usually, the additional items or products are held in place bymerely enclosing the CD Case of the present invention in a thin plasticsheet or a plastic wrap. The thin plastic sheet may be glued in place,as is common in the music delivery industry presently, or the wrap maybe melted to seal it around the CD Case, or the CD Case may be coveredwith a process commonly known as “shrink wrap.” However the wrap isapplied to the CD Case, the wrap when put in place to surround the CDCase (or just cover the opening of the Hinge Space) provides a barrierto movement into or out of the Hinge Space until the wrap is broken orpealed away, or removed entirely. The barrier created by the wrap is byitself sufficient to keep most additional items and products in placeduring shipment and display of the CD Case of the present invention, andat the same time provide easy access to a prospective purchaser when theoptical disk is purchased, and removed from its case. Once purchased,the prospective purchaser may first remove the wrap from the front ofthe Hinge Space (generally while removing the wrap from the CD Caseprior to opening the Front Cover), at which time the purchaser may thenpull the additional item or product from the Hinge Space, or simplyallow the additional item or product to drop from the Hinge Space inresponse to gravity if the Front Side of the CD Case is pointedgenerally downward. In such applications, the thin plastic sheet used towrap a CD Case, as is common in the music delivery industry presently,will act as a barrier to movement into or out of the Hinge Space untilthe wrap is broken or pealed away, a barrier which in a great many caseswill by itself be sufficient to keep even larger items and products inplace during shipment and display of the CD Case of the presentinvention.

In one preferred embodiment of the simple version of the presentinvention, the CD Case, as noted above, is left open at the front of theHinge Space by merely forming the Tray which will be placed within theCD Case without the Front Panel. However, in such a formation, the Trayis otherwise formed as found in standard CD Cases, with all of itscomponents including the Tray wall between the Hinge Space and theremainder of the Tray. The Tray wall is in most cases a half-wall orhalf-panel, as the Tray is designed to be raised slightly when it isproperly situated within the main body of the CD Case during assembly.The raising of the Tray allows a depression, or recessed well, to beformed in the Tray for insertion of a CD.

In another preferred embodiment of the simple version of the presentinvention, the CD Case is left open as the Tray is again formed withoutthe Front Panel, however in such second configuration, the Tray is alsoformed without the half-wall or half-panel between the Hinge Space andthe remainder of the Tray. Of course, in this second configuration, theHinge Space and the space above the Tray (and the space above an opticaldisk held in the Tray) are open to one another. Since anything placedwithin the Hinge Space may freely move within the Hinge Space if suchobject is not otherwise constrained, the additional item or product tobe Co-marketed must be selected from among those items and productswhich will not move from the Hinge Space to the open space above the CDin the CD Case (i.e., the additional item or product must be a solidobject wider than the opening between the Tray and the Front Cover, ormaterial contained in and constrained by a solid container with suchdimensions).

Another preferred embodiment of the simple version of the presentinvention, that embodiment with the half-wall or half-panel between theHinge Space and the remainder of the Tray, takes advantage of the open“pass through” afforded by this design. In this embodiment, a removablepanel of paper, cardboard, plastic, metal, or other material may extendin one direction into some of, or all of, the space in the interior ofthe CD Case, and so be laid over some or all of the recessed well ordepression in which an optical disk may reside. The removable panel mayalso extend in the other direction into some of, or all of, the HingeSpace. The removable panel may carry a coupon or other promotional item,or the removable panel may merely cover the optical disk or interior ofthe CD Case, or the removable panel may cover another item contained inthe interior of the CD Case (and laid over the top of the optical diskresiding in the recessed well of the Tray). In any case, the removablepanel of this preferred embodiment, because it extends into the HingeSpace, may be employed advantageously in the Hinge Space, separate andapart from the usefulness within the interior of the CD Case.

As one example of the use of the removable panel, a rigid removablepanel may be used to retain the additional product co-marketed in theHinge Space. On the other hand, a flexible removable panel (and somerigid panels) might be removed from the CD Case as it bends up and outof the Hinge Space, thereby allowing a marketer or user to create alarger, wider display. Or the removable panel might provide easy accessto a coupon for a sample, or to words or other descriptive materialresiding on the panel. The removable panel may even be used to surprisea prospective purchaser by hiding the name of the artist or otheridentifying information displayed on an optical disk within the CD Caseuntil a purchase is complete, or allow a well known artist to avoidbeing associated with a product contained in a CD Case until a purchaseis complete, thereby in some sense preserving the non-commercialpresentation of an artist's work. With such use, an artistic work mightnot be directly associated with a very commercial enterprise (or anyenterprise in which the artist would not wish a consumer to make adirect association between the artist, his work, and the enterprise).

When used in the method of the present invention, the three parts of theCD Case of the present invention are formed according to the descriptionof the simple version of the invention as set forth above. The Tray issituated properly within the main body of the CD Case, and componentscomprising the hinge between the Front Cover and the main body areengaged so that they co-act, and so create the hinge for the CD Case. Anoptical disk is then placed within the recessed well of the Tray withinthe main body, and the Front Cover is rotated to cover the spaceenclosed within the main body (including the optical disk). One or moreadditional items or products are then placed within the Hinge Space ofthe CD Case of the present invention by insertion through the open frontof the Hinge Space. The CD Case is then wrapped using thin plasticsheeting, so that the additional item or product so placed within theHinge Space cannot be removed from the Hinge Space during transport, orby a prospective purchaser by hand, or by the force of gravity beforepurchase. A purchaser may, in some embodiments, sample the additionalitem, by appropriate modifications to the thin plastic wrap covering theCD Case, or the purchaser may simply purchase the co-marketed products.Once the optical disk or the additional item or product are chosen bythe prospective purchaser, the prospective purchaser may pay for theCo-marketed combination of optical disk and additional item or productand, the purchase being complete, the purchaser may remove the wrap.Once the wrap is removed by the purchaser, the additional item orproduct may then be removed from the uncovered CD Case by simplyorienting the CD Case so that its Front Side faces generally downward.Of course, the purchaser may also remove the additional item or productfrom the Hinge Space by hand as well, using a finger tip, or a penciltip, or other tool, and in corn applications the additional item may besampled at this time.

In another embodiment of the present invention, access to the HingeSpace may be gained through the back side of the CD Case, by forming anopening in the main body of the CD Case directly behind the Hinge Space.In such embodiment, the Tray of a standard CD Case may be formed in itsusual configuration, and placed in its usual position within the mainbody of the CD Case of the present invention, thereby preventing easyaccess from the Front Side of the CD Case, because the easy access tothe additional items or products is provided from the rear of the CDCase through the opening in the main body as described herein. Again, aswith other versions of the present invention, the additional items orproducts are held in position using the outer wrapping for the CD Case,generally the thin plastic covering set forth above.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, access to the HingeSpace may be gained through the spine of the CD Case, by formation of anopening in the main body of the CD Case along its side intended toconstitute the spine. This embodiment uses an opening along one end ofthe CD Case, near the hinge, and along the length of the Hinge Space,where the panel usually formed on the spine end of the main body issimply left off. In such embodiment, the Tray of a standard CD Case mayagain be used in its usual configuration, because the easy access to theadditional item or product which is central to the present invention isprovided along the spine of the CD Case. On the other hand, the Tray ofa standard CD Case may be used in a reduced, and even more openconfiguration, by again removing the portion of the Tray which wouldnormally bound the front of the Hinge Space (i.e., the Front Panel).Again leaving the Hinge Space open for easy access both from the frontof the CD Case and along its spine. Again, as with other versions of thepresent invention, the additional item or product is held in positionusing the outer wrapping for the CD Case, generally the thin plasticcovering set forth above.

In each embodiment of the present invention, movable panels may beemployed to close the openings which provide easy access to theadditional items or products consistent with the purposes and method ofthe present invention. Such movable panels may have a number ofpurposes, however one major purpose of such panels is to securely retainan additional item or product in place in the Hinge Space where a thinplastic wrapping is not used, or where such wrapping is used butadditional strength is desirable to ensure the additional item orproduct remains in place. Such additional strength may be desirable, forexample, when the additional item or product is a heavy object, such asa bottle full of perfume, which bottle completely fills the Hinge Space.Particularly when the value of the additional item or product greatlyexceeds the value of the co-marketed optical disk, it is be importantthat the item or product remain in place, rather than break through thethin plastic wrap, fall to the floor, and break.

In embodiments where movable panels are desirable, such panels may beset in place, and kept in place with pins and corresponding holes, orsuch panels may be formed with separate hinge (and latch) components, orsuch panels may be formed from an extension of the plastic of the Tray.Where a movable panel is an extension of the Tray, the Front Panel ofthe Tray of a CD Case of the present invention may be formed to bemovable if the plastic along a line at the end of the Tray wall isformed thinner than the rest of the Tray wall, before it thickens againto form the Front Panel. Such thinning of the plastic, creates a line inwhich the plastic is naturally easier to bend between the half wall andthe Front Panel. In such a configuration, the Front Panel in such a Traymay swing around that line, thereby allowing the Front Panel to open andclose the opening over the Hinge Space when the Tray is properlysituated in the main body of the CD Case. Wherever a movable panel isused to close the opening to the Hinge Space, a latching mechanism maybe employed to secure the movable end or edge of such panel. Thus, forinstance, the Front Panel of the Tray of a CD Case of standardconfiguration which may swing around the line formed by the thinnedplastic of the Tray, as set forth herein, may also be formed with smallpins or hooks which may be inserted into corresponding holes or openingsin the main body of the CD Case when the Tray is properly situated inthe main body of the CD Case. When such pins or hooks are inserted intosuch holes or openings in the main body, they engage such holes oropenings, and thereby fix the movable end or edge of the Front Panel.

In each embodiment of the present invention, spacers may be insertedwithin the Hinge Space to occupy space around an additional item orproduct if such additional item or product is of a shape or size whichdoes not fit snugly within the Hinge Space of the CD Case. An example ofsuch spacers includes tabs or ledges formed in the hard plastic of theHinge Space, which tabs or ledges fit snugly around a cylindrical objectresiding within the Hinge Space, thereby holding the cylindrical objectsnugly in place. A second example of such spacers includes a pin or tabextending from one end of the Hinge Space, which pin or tab extends fromthat end of the Hinge Space to an end of an additional item or productwhen such is placed within the Hinge Space. Such pin or tab acts toprevent the additional item or product from moving longitudinally withinthe Hinge Space, and so reduces the likelihood the ends of theadditional item or product will contact the end of the Hinge Space withsufficient force to break the additional item or product or the end ofthe Hinge Space. Such modifications by formation of spacers, tabs,ledges, and pins within the Hinge Space in a CD Case are within thescope of the present invention in all cases where the additional item orproduct may be easily accessed through the front, spine, back or ends ofa Hinge Space formed according to the present invention. Of course, allsuch spacers, tabs, and ledges used to secure an object within the HingeSpace must be positioned within the constraints of any movable panelsformed to close the opening or openings which provide access to theHinge Space (or at least in consideration of such movable panels).

The more important features of the invention have thus been outlined,rather broadly, so that the detailed description thereof that followsmay be better understood, and in order that the present contribution tothe art may be better appreciated. Additional features of specificembodiments of the invention will be described below. However, beforeexplaining preferred embodiments of the invention in detail, it may benoted briefly that the present invention substantially departs frompre-existing apparatus and methods of the prior art, and in so doingprovides the user with the highly desirable feature of direct access tothe Hinge Space of a CD Case. Such direct access is necessary to providethe Co-marketing facility which is a central objective of the presentinvention. Without such direct access, whether through the front, back,or spine of the CD Case, a prospective purchaser cannot easily removethe additional item or product which is intended to be Co-marketed withthe optical disk contained in the CD Case.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

A principal object of the present invention is to provide easy access tothe Hinge Space in a CD Case.

A further principal object of the present invention is to provide astorage, transport, and display apparatus for additional item orproducts which might be sold with optical disks.

A further principal object of the present invention is to provide astorage, transport, and display apparatus for optical disks which mightbe sold or given away promotionally with perfumes, or other additionalitem or products.

A further principal object of the present invention is to allow a sellerof optical disks to co-market additional item or products.

A further principal object of the present invention is to allow a sellerof perfume, or other product which might be contained in the Hinge Spaceof a CD Case to co-market optical disks, or to provide them free forpromotional purposes to sell the additional item or product.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate two preferred embodiments of thepresent invention, and such drawings, together with the description setforth herein, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view drawing of a CD case within prior art, thetop of the case presented in open configuration, ready to accept anoptical disk.

FIG. 2 is a front (or top) drawing of the CD case within prior art shownin FIG. 1, the top of the case presented in closed configuration.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view drawing of the CD case within prior artshown in FIG. 1, drawn along line 3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a front (or top) view drawing of a first preferred embodimentof the CD Case of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view drawing of the first preferredembodiment of the CD case of the present invention shown in FIG. 4,drawn along line 5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view drawing of a second preferredembodiment of the CD case of the present invention, drawn with aremovable panel.

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view drawing of the Tray a second preferredembodiment of the CD case of the present invention, drawn to show thevarious angles at which one component of the Tray may be formed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A FIRST PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring initially to FIG. 1, a CD case within the prior art 10 isshown in perspective view, viewed from above. The case is open, withFront Cover 11 rotationally attached to main body 12 of the case at bothends of a spine wall 18 (the wall along one edge commonly referred to asthe “spine” of the case) along one edge of main body 12. The rotationalattachment is accomplished by Front Cover pins (not shown) which extendinto corresponding holes (not shown) in main body 12, thereby creating ahinge between main body 12 and the Front Cover 11. The hinge so createdallows Front Cover 11 to rotate along an axis 16 close to one of itsedges 17 in substantially fixed rotational relationship with thecorresponding spine wall 18 along the spine of main body 12, as thecover pins rotate within the corresponding holes of main body 12. Tray20 appears in FIG. 1, properly positioned in main body 12, and ready toaccept an optical disk (not shown) in recessed well 22 formed in Tray20. On the hinge side of CD case 10, Tray 20 in FIG. 1 extends fromrecessed well 22, up and over the space between the cover pins of FrontCover 11 and corresponding holes in main body 12. The extension of Tray20 in this fashion creates Tray wall 24 between recessed well 22 of Tray20 and the space between the cover pins and corresponding holes in mainbody 12. This space, which we refer to herein generally as the “hingespace” (and, as the hinge space is modified consistent with thepresented invention, the “Hinge Space”) is bounded on its bottom (orback) by main body 12, and along its one side by spine wall 18 at thespine of CD case 10. This space is also bounded on its other side, whenTray 20 is properly positioned within main body 12, by Tray wall 24, andon its front or top by Front Panel 25. The sum of these componentsbounding the hinge space creates an elongated enclosure between thecover pins and corresponding holes in the main body.

Turning now to FIG. 2, a front (or top) drawing of CD case 10 withinprior art of FIG. 1 is shown, with Front Cover 11, formed of clearplastic in FIG. 2, in position over main body 12 of case 10, so thatcase 10 is presented in a closed configuration. FIG. 2 also shows Tray20, with recessed well 22, under the clear plastic of Front Cover 11.FIG. 2 also shows spine wall 18 along the spine of the CD Case, Traywall 24, and Front Panel 25.

In FIG. 3, a cross sectional view drawing of the CD case within priorart shown in FIG. 1 is shown, the cross section drawn along line 3 ofFIG. 2. Accordingly, FIG. 3 shows many of the same components as appearin FIG. 2, i.e. Front Cover 11, formed of clear plastic, in positionover main body 12 of case 10, also presented in a closed configuration,with Tray 20, and recessed well 22 in Tray 20, under the clear plasticof Front Cover 11, and spine wall 18, Tray wall 24, and Front Panel 25.However, in FIG. 3, hinge space 30, which extends the length of thespine of case 10, clearly appears bounded at its back by the back ofmain body 12, at its one side by spine wall 18, at its Tray side by Traywall 24, and at its front by Front Panel 25. It should be noted thathinge space 30 is entirely enclosed by such components, each of whichare rigid components formed from main body 12 or Tray 20. Accordingly,materials placed within hinge space 30 cannot be removed from hingespace 30 without removing Tray 20, or breaking one of these rigidcomponents.

Turning now to FIG. 4, a front (or top) view drawing of a firstpreferred embodiment of the CD Case of the present invention is shown,with changes to main body 12, Tray 20, and Front Cover 11 consistentwith the present invention. More particularly, main body 12 is againshown as in FIG. 2, again with Front Cover 11, formed of clear plasticin FIG. 2, in position over main body 12 of case 10, so that case 10 ispresented in a closed configuration. FIG. 4 also shows Tray 20, withrecessed well 22, under the clear plastic of Front Cover 11. FIG. 2 alsoshows spine wall 18 along the spine of the CD Case, and Tray wall 24.However, Hinge Space 30 in FIG. 4 is open at its front, there being noFront Panel 25 to close it as in prior art. Without Front Panel 25, thefront side of the interior of main body 12, that is, area 31 betweenspine wall 18 and Tray wall 24, may be seen through Hinge Space 30.Thus, Tray 20 is properly (and snugly) placed in main body 12 on threesides of Tray 20, but on the fourth side Tray 20 ends with Tray wall 24,there being no Front Panel 25 covering the front of Hinge Space 30. AsFront Panel 25 is therefore missing from Tray 20 in the presentinvention, a user has immediate access to Hinge Space 30 because FrontCover 11, in the present invention and in prior art, only covers thespace above an optical disk placed in recessed well 22, and does notextend over Hinge Space 30. Accordingly, by merely removing Front Panel25, Hinge Space 30 is left open, and materials may be easily placed in,and removed from, Hinge Space 30 without removing Tray 20 from itssecure position in main body 12.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view drawing of the first preferredembodiment of the CD case of the present invention shown in FIG. 4,drawn along line 5 of FIG. 4. Accordingly, FIG. 5 shows many of the samecomponents as appear in FIG. 4, i.e. Front Cover 11, formed of clearplastic, in position over main body 12 of case 10. In FIG. 5, thepresent invention is also presented in a closed configuration, with Tray20, with recessed well 22, under the clear plastic of Front Cover 11,and spine wall 18, and Tray wall 24. However, because Hinge Space 30 inFIGS. 4 and 5 is open at its front, there being no Front Panel to closethis space as in prior art, the front side of the interior of main body12 may be seen below Hinge Space 30, in area 31 between spine wall 18and Tray wall 24, there being no Front Panel 25 to close Hinge Space 30as in prior art. Without Front Panel 25, Again, Tray 20 is properly (andsnugly) placed in main body 12 in FIG. 5, but Tray 20 in FIG. 5 endswith Tray wall 24. As a result, a user has immediate access to HingeSpace 30 because Front Cover 11, in the present invention and in priorart, only covers the space above an optical disk placed in recessed well22, and does not extend over Hinge Space 30. In FIG. 5, Hinge Space 30,which extends the length of the spine of case 10, again appears boundedat its back by the back of main body 12 (while presenting area 31 to theexterior of the CD case) at its one side by spine wall 18, and at itsTray side by Tray wall 24. In FIG. 5, Hinge Space 30 is clearly open atits front (or top) because of the absence of the Front Panel usuallyfound in prior art. As a result, materials placed within Hinge Space 30can be readily removed from Hinge Space 30 without removing Tray 20, orbreaking one of the rigid components which bound it. The firstembodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 may each becovered by thin plastic sheeting to close Hinge Space 30, and therebyhold an object placed there within Hinge Space 30.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A SECOND PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view drawing of a second preferredembodiment of the CD case of the present invention, drawn along a linewhich bisects the CD case of the present invention, similar to bisectingline 5 drawn in FIG. 4. Accordingly, FIG. 6 shows many of the samecomponents as appear in FIG. 5, i.e. Front Cover 11, formed of clearplastic, in position over main body 12 of case 10. In FIG. 5, thepresent invention is also presented in a closed configuration, with Tray20, with recessed well 22, under the clear plastic of Front Cover 11,and spine wall 18, and Tray wall 24. However, in FIG. 6, Tray wall 24 isonly formed substantially half height, which configuration allowsremovable panel 40, when placed within case 10, to extend the entirewidth of case 10. Thus, removable 40 panel may be placed in suchposition as to extend from line 41 near one side of main body 12, allthe way across the front of the case over Tray well 22, through HingeSpace 30, and up to line 42 near spine wall 18. Since there is no FrontPanel to close Hinge Space 30 in this embodiment as in prior art, thefront side of the interior of main body 12 may be seen below Hinge Space30, in area 31 between spine wall 18 and Tray wall 24, before placementof removable panel 40. However, with removable panel 40 in place, end 42of removable panel 40 may cover the area between Tray wall 24 and spinewall 18. As a result, an object placed within Hinge Space 30 may also becovered by end 42 of removable panel 40, or such object placed withinHinge Space 30 may even be held in place within Hinge Space 30 even ifthe CD case of the present invention is not sealed with the plasticcover envisioned by most embodiments. In FIG. 6, Hinge Space 30, whichextends the length of the spine of case 10, again appears bounded at itsback by the back of main body 12 (while presenting area 31 to theexterior of the CD case if removable panel 40 is absent), at its oneside by spine wall 18, and at its Tray side by Tray wall 24. In FIG. 6,Hinge Space 30 is clearly open at its front (or top) if removable panel40 is absent or removed from case 10, so materials placed within HingeSpace 30 can be readily removed from Hinge Space 30 without removingTray 20, merely by sliding or removing panel 40. Tray wall 24 in thisembodiment may be formed taller, to securely hold removable panel inplace by exertion of pressure on removable panel so that it in turnpresses against front cover 11. Tray wall 24 may also be formed shorter,as low as the level of the top surface of an optical disk residing inrecessed well 22, to allow removable panel 40 to move more freely incase 10, or allow other items or objects to be placed in case 10 aboveor below removable panel 40 in and around recessed well 22, or belowremovable panel 40 in Hinge Space 30.

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view drawing which shows further Traymodifications of the second preferred embodiment of the CD case shown inFIG. 6, again drawn along a line which bisects the CD case, similar tobisecting line 5 drawn in FIG. 4. However, in FIG. 7 only Tray 20 isshown with such modifications, the Front Cover 11 and main body 12 ofcase 10 being left out for clarity. In FIG. 7, Tray wall 24 may beformed substantially half height, as in FIG. 6, or higher, or Tray wall24 may formed full height, to separate Hinge Space 30 from the remainderof the interior of case 10. Also, the distal end 45 of Tray wall 24 maybe formed to extend upward (if the CD Case is laying flat) verticallyfrom its lower proximate end 46, which is joined with the remainder ofTray 20 along proximate end 46, or the distal end 45 of Tray wall 24 maybe formed to extend upward at an angle from its lower proximate end 46.The variety of possible configurations for forming Tray wall 24 as partof Tray 20 allows panels, such as panel 40 in FIG. 6 to reside looselywithin Case 10, or be tightly held between distal end 45 and Cover 11.The variety of possible configurations for forming Tray wall 24 as partof Tray 20 also allows Hinge Space 30 to be configured for oddly shapedobjects, or reduced or increased in size panels according to therequirements of the object to be delivered with the optical disk in case10.

Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art fromconsideration of the specification and practice of the inventiondisclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples beconsidered as exemplary only, with a true scope of the invention beingindicated by the following claims and equivalents.

1. An optical disk case comprising: a substantially flat main body having a plurality of edges, with a plurality of sides appended thereto, the plurality of sides formed to create a substantially closable space, a main body hinge means formed approximately along a spine edge of the main body; a tray adapted to fit within the substantially closable space of the main body, the tray having a means for holding a compact disk, and a means for engaging with the main body to hold the tray within the substantially closable space of the main body; the tray is formed narrower than the main body, leaving an unoccupied space within the main body adjacent the spine edge of the main body when the tray is placed within the substantially closable space of the main body and the means for engaging the main body is engaged with the main body; a substantially flat front cover with a spine edge, the front cover adapted to partially close the substantially closable space of the main body when the front cover is situated over the substantially closable space of the main body; and a front cover hinge means formed approximately along the spine edge of the front cover, and adapted to form a hinge when coupled to the main body hinge means; the front cover is formed narrower than the main body, and approximately equal in width with the tray, leaving an access to the unoccupied space within the main body adjacent the spine edge of the main body when the front cover hinge means is engaged with the main body hinge means, and the front cover is rotated into position to partially close the substantially closable space of the main body.
 2. The optical disk case of claim 1, in which a wall is formed along the edge of the tray adjacent the unoccupied space within the main body.
 3. The optical disk case of claim 2, in which the wall formed along the edge of the tray adjacent the unoccupied space within the main body is tall enough to separate the unoccupied space from the remainder of the substantially closable space of the main body.
 4. The optical disk case of claim 3, in which the wall formed along the edge of the tray adjacent the unoccupied space within the main body is oriented perpendicular to the main body and the tray when the tray is placed within the substantially closable space of the main body and the tray means for engaging the main body is engaged with the main body.
 5. The optical disk case of claim 3, in which the wall formed along the edge of the tray adjacent the unoccupied space within the main body is oriented at an angle to the main body and the tray when the tray is placed within the substantially closable space of the main body and the tray means for engaging the main body is engaged with the main body.
 6. The optical disk case of claim 2, in which the wall formed along the edge of the tray adjacent the unoccupied space within the main body is tall enough to hold a removable panel against the front cover when such a removable panel is placed over the tray means for holding a compact disk, and such removable panel extends into the unoccupied space within the main body.
 7. a tray for placing within an optical disk case comprising: a substantially flat part having a plurality of edges, the substantially flat part is adapted to fit within the interior of the main body of a standard optical disk case, the substantially flat part having a means for holding a compact disk and a means for engaging with the interior of the main body of the standard optical disk case to hold the substantially flat part within the standard optical disk case; and the substantially flat part is formed narrower than the main body of the standard optical disk case, leaving an unoccupied space adjacent the spine edge of the main body of the standard optical disk case when the substantially flat part is placed within the main body of a standard optical disk case, and the means for engaging the main body of the standard optical disk case is engaged with the main body of the standard optical disk case;
 8. The tray for placing within an optical disk case of claim 7, further comprising a wall is formed along a spine edge of the substantially flat part, wherein the wall is adjacent the unoccupied space within the main body when the means for engaging the main body of the standard optical disk case is engaged with the main body of the standard optical disk case.
 9. The tray for placing within an optical disk case of claim 8, in which the wall formed along the spine edge of the substantially flat part is tall enough to separate the unoccupied space from the remainder of the substantially closable space of the main body when the substantially flat part is placed within the main body of the standard optical disk case, and the means for engaging the main body of the standard optical disk case is engaged with the main body of the standard optical disk case.
 10. The tray for placing within an optical disk case of claim 8, in which the wall formed along the spine edge of the substantially flat part is oriented perpendicular to the substantially flat part.
 11. The tray for placing within an optical disk case of claim 8, in which the wall formed along the spine edge of the substantially flat part is oriented at an angle to the substantially flat part.
 12. The tray for placing within an optical disk case of claim 8, in which the wall formed along the spine edge of the substantially flat part is tall enough to hold a removable panel against a front cover of the standard optical disk case when such a removable panel is placed over the substantially flat part within the main body of the standard optical disk case, the means for engaging the main body of the standard optical disk case is engaged with the main body of the standard optical disk case, and the front cover of the standard optical disk case is closed over the main body of the standard optical disk case.
 13. A method for co-marketing a product using the optical disk case of claim 1 comprising the steps of: placing the product in the unoccupied space within the main body adjacent the spine edge of the main body; and covering the access to the unoccupied space with a closure means to close the unoccupied space.
 14. The method for co-marketing a product as in claim 13, in which the closure means is a thin plastic wrap.
 15. The method for co-marketing a product as in claim 13, in which the closure means is a thin plastic sheet.
 16. The method for co-marketing a product as in claim 13, in which the closure means is a removable panel between the tray and the front cover.
 17. The method for co-marketing a product as in claim 16, further comprising covering access to the unoccupied space with a thin plastic sheet. 